One of the more sensible and universally acceptable changes in the proposed new Constitution is the election of the president and vice president as a team.
In theory, a vice president warms the post until the president dies or becomes otherwise incapacitated. Meanwhile, he or she has to, at the very least, contribute to the administration to make his or her election worthwhile.
But for far too long we have seen the consequences of the two top officials hailing from different, if not rival, political groups.
At the beginning of an administration, there might be some show of goodwill between the two top officials. They might be seen together in public events and even discussing national issues during Cabinet meetings where the vice president may hold a post.
Over time, however, the differences rear their ugly heads. In the present administration, for instance, and before she was eased out of the Cabinet, Vice President Leni Robredo had spoken out numerous times against the policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, forgetting the fact that she was technically his alter ego.
Robredo also is now fighting an electoral protest that may or may not unseat her.
It is an utter waste of time and money to occupy this high post only to be removed from it, constructively or otherwise. Imagine the opportunities to work together that are never realized because of the inherent incongruence between officials from varying backgrounds.
The draft Constitution will certainly face rough sailing for all other provisions it offers, and for the practicability of the changes it seeks to introduce. Still, if we can contemplate a government where the two top officials can work together, not just co-exist, then that is one less problem we have to bear.
